Hearing aid



Feb. 19, 1946.

J. R. cuaER-r 2,395,318

HEARING AID Filed April 2, 1942 f/Zn 4 JZ@ 4 E6 36 as 55 4&4 34 34 1N VENT OR.

Patented Feb. 19, 1946 HEARING AID Joseph R. Gubert, Chicago. Ill.. assigner to Aurex Corporation. Chicago, lll., a corporation oi' Illinoia application apro 2, mz, sensi No. 431.382 s claims. iol. 17o- 107) 'This invention relates to a hearing aid.

An appreciable number of hard of hearing persons have only a small percentage of hearing loss. and consequently the ordinary hearing aid instrument having high ampliiicaticn is not satisfactory for those persons. -Hearing aid manufacturers produce a so-called low level linstrument for this class of persons.y However, these so-called low level" instruments are or special design, necessitating the manufacture and stocking ot an additional instrument model.

An object of the invention is to provide a low leve hearing aid which enables a manufacturer, distributor or service man to use a standard ampliiier in conjunction with a special phone or instrument phone connector to provide a low level hearing aid.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a "low level hearing aid, as above stated. by incorporating a shunt, series or potentiometer resistance in an element of the instrument-tophone connector or in the phone itself so as to bring the acoustic output of the ear phone to a low level.

Other and further objects and advantages oi' the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing; wherein- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a hearing aid embodying the invention:

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are views in phone with its cover removed:

Figures 5, 6 and I are views in elevation of the phone connector plug:

Figure '7a is a view showing the connector plug of Figure "I in perspective;

Figure 8 is a view in elevation showing another phone connector plug:

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are views in elevation o! the` instrument connector plug;

Figures l2, 13 and 14 are fragmentary views of the instrumentto-phone connector cord: and

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating the construction and use of an adapter between the instrument and instrument connector plus.

The hearing oid device, as shown in Figure l, comprises an instrument 2, a phone l, a phoneto-instrument connecting cord 8, a battery-toinstrument connecting cord 8, a battery connector plug lli, an instrument connector plug i2, and a phone connector plug Il.

- The instrument 2 comprises a casing il in which is housed a standard microphone (not shown) positioned behind the openings i 6 o! a elevation of the standard high gain or level amplifier (not shown) the amplier including a suitable socket having a pair oi terminals i8 and a pair oi terminals 2li, as shown in Figure 15, for receiving the terminal prongs of an adapter plug 22 or the instrument connector plug I2. The casing Il is provided with an opening (not shown) in its lower edge to permit the insertion oi the prongs oi the plug I2 or the adapter 22 into the terminals of that socket.

A resistive element may he incorporated in the phone (Figures 2 to 4), the phone connector plug (Figures 5 to 8). the instrument connector plug (Figures 9 to 11). the instrument-to-phone connecting cord (Figures 12 to 14) or the adapter 22 (Figure 15). As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the phone l comprises a casing 24 having an opening in its rear wall exposing a pair oi terminals 26 and 2l mounted in the casing. The rear wall of the casing 24 on opposite sides oi' that opening is provided with outwardly extending channelshaped guide pieces 36 receiving edge flange parts I2 (Figure 5) of the phone connector plug il. The front of the casing 24 is closed by a suitable cover (not shown) having the usual opening or openings therein, through which the air passes as the phone diaphragm is vibrated. The usual phone crystal 3l is mounted in the casing 2l and connected electrically by wires or other connecting means 38 and 36 to the terminals 26 and 26.

The resistive element 40 in Figure 2 may be mounted in any suitable manner in the casing 24 and connected to the terminals 26 and 26 in shunt to the phone crystal 34.

As shown in Figure 3, the resistive element 46 mounted in the casing 2l of the phone is con-` nected at one end as by wire 42 or other connecting means to one terminal of the phone crystal ll, and at its opposite end as by wire I4 or other connecting means to the terminal 26. The termlnal 28 is connected as by wire I6 to the other terminal of the phone crystal. Thus, in this iorm the resistive element 46 is connected in series with the phone crystal.

As shown in Figure 4, the resistive element is in thel form of a potentiometer 46 having one end connected by wire 56 to terminal 26, and the opposite end connected by wires 62 and 54 to the other terminal 28 and one terminal oi the phone crystal 3l. The other terminal of the phone crystal is connected by wire 8B at an intermediate Dointf or tap 58 of the potentiometer resistor 4B.

The phone connector plug Il comprises a casing 60 which is provided with flanges 32 for slidably interlocking with the guides 86 of the phone l, and in this casing are mounted resilient terminal strips l2 and Bt positioned so as to engage the terminals 2l and 2B of the phone I, and, in resiliently engaging the phone terminals, resiliently retain the plug in position in the guides 80 of the phone.

A resistive element 6l may be mounted in any suitable manner in the casing 80 and connected at its opposite ends as by wires or other connecting means Il to the terminals $2 and 8l, so that when the phone connector plug is in position. as shown in Figure i, the resistive element BB is ccnnectod in shunt to the phone crystal 2l. As shown I in Figure 6, the resistive element B8 may be connected at one end directly to one wire ci the connecting cord I, and at its opposite end as by wire 'i0 to terminal 82. the other terminal u being directly connected to the other wire of the cord l. In this form the resistive element 68 is, therefore, connected when the plug is positioned as shown in Figure 1. in series with the phone crystal.

As shown in Figure 7, a potentiometer resistor I2 is suitably mounted in the casing lll and directly connected at its opposite ends to the wires of the connecting cord I. One end of the potentiometer is also connected by wire 'Il to terminal Il, while the terminal 82 is connected as by wire 1B to an intermediate tap 1B of the potentiometer resistor 12.

The resistive element may be incorporated in the instrument or amplifier connector plug i2. as shown in Figures 9, 10 and ll. As illustrated in Figure 9, the resistive element I may be mounted in the casing 82 of the instrument connector plug i2 and connected at its opposite ends to the wires of the connecting cord B and the terminal prongs Il and 8B which are mounted in the casing and project therefrom for insertion in the terminals Il of the ampliiier socket. The other terminal prongs 8l which are mounted in the casing l2 and project therefrom for reception in the terminals 20 o! the amplifier socket are directly connected to the pair of wires of the battery connecting cord l. In Figure the resistive element 8l is connected at one end directly to one wire of the phone connecting cord l, and at its opposite end as by wire 00 to the plug terminal prong Ill. while the companion terminal prong ll is directly connected 'to the other wire of the phone connecting cord.

As shown in Figure l1, the potentiometer resistor l2 is connected at one end to one wire of the phone connecting cord t. and by wire 04 to the terminal prong 8l while the opposite end of the potentiometer resistor is connected as by wire 98 to terminal prong ll. The other wire of the connecting cord is connected to a tap Sil of the potentiometer resistor. Thus, as shown in Figure 9, the resistor element l0 is effectively connected in shunt to the phone crystal, while resistive element 2li in Figure 10 is enectively connected in series with the phone crystal, and in Figure 11 the resistor 92 is connected as a potentiometer across the phone crystal.

The resistive element may be incorporated directly in the connecting cord, as illustrated in Figures 12 to 14, Figure 12 showing the resistive element |00 connected across the wires of the connecting cord 8 and mounted in a housing or casing |||2 through which the cord extends. In Figure 13 the resistor element |00 is interposed in series in one wire of the connecting cord 6, while, as shown in Figure 14, the potentiometer resistor IM has its opposite ends connected to both wires of the incoming section of the conaeoaaia necting cord and the outgoing section of fthe connecting cord is connected to one end of the potentiometer resistor, while the other wire is connected to a tap |08 o! this potentiometer.

Alternatively, the resistive element may be incorporated in the adapter 22 (Figure 15), which adapter may comprise a casing |00 having a socket part and a plug part, the socket part comprising terminals IIU and I|2 for receiving the prongs 84 and 8B of the connector plug I2 and terminals H4 receiving the prongs 8B of this plug i2. The plug part of the adapter may comprise prongs IIB and H8 connected to the terminals IIB and II2 and receivable in the terminals i2 of the ampiiiler socket. The plug part of the adapter may also comprise terminal prongs |20 connected to the terminals lil and receivable in the terminals 2li o! the ampliiler socket.

The resistive element |22 may be mounted in the adapter casing IUI and connected. as shown in Figure 15, at its opposite ends between the wires connecting the outer terminals lill, ||l and I|2||l, so that it is, in eect. connected across the phone crystal. Alternatively, the rcsistive element |22 may be connected between one of the pairs of prongs lill, H6 and lil-ill so as to be effectively in series with the phone crystal; or it may be connected as a potentiometer across a pair of terminals liiI-i I2 or ill- HB, while one end is connected to the other pair of such terminalsl and the other one of said pair of terminals is connected at an intermediate point on the resistor.

The resistive element shown in Figures 2 to l5 can be any form of standard resistance material and mounted in its casing in any convenient manner. Preferably, however, the casing.

'as for example the casing l0 of the phone connector plug Il, is provided with a groove |24 illled with a resistive material |20, such as "Aquadag" and connections therefrom made to the appropriate terminals to connect the resistive material |20 in series or shunt or as a potentiometer in the phone circuit.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriiicing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A low level hearing aid comprising a high level hearing aid amplifier, Va phone element, and a cord element with plug elements connecting the ampliner to the phone element, each of said elements having a casing, and a signal leveling iixed resistance strip on the inner surface of the casing of one of said elements.

2. A Vlow level hearing aid comprising a high level hearing aid ampliner, a phone element, each of said elements having a casing, and a cord eiement with plug elements connecting the amplifier to the phone element. and a signal leveling iixed resistance strip on the inner surface of the casing of one of said elements and connected in shunt to the ampliiler to provide a potentiometer across a portion of which the phone element is connected.

3. A low level hearing aid comprising a high level hearing aid ampliner, a phone element, and means including plug elements for conneotinl the amplifier to the phone element, each of sait minals and leads to reduce the power of the signals supplied to the phone.

5. A low level hearing aid comprising a high level hearing aid ampliiier, a phone element, and elements connecting the amplier to the phone element, one of said elements comprising a casing having terminals therein and signal levellng ilxed resistance strip coated on the inside of said casing and connected to said terminals to reduce the power of the signals supplied by the ampliiler to the phone element.

JOSEPH B. CUBERT.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,395,318.

February 19, 1946.

JOSEPH R. CUBERT It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed Specification of the abov'.` numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, lines 63 and 64, claim 2, strike out the Words and comme euch of said elements having a casing, and insert the same after e1ement, in line 6G, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oihce.

Signed and sealed this 31st dey of December, A. D.

[SEAL] LESLIE FRAZER First Assistant Gommz'ssz'oner of Patents,

minals and leads to reduce the power of the signals supplied to the phone.

5. A low level hearing aid comprising a high level hearing aid ampliiier, a phone element, and elements connecting the amplier to the phone element, one of said elements comprising a casing having terminals therein and signal levellng ilxed resistance strip coated on the inside of said casing and connected to said terminals to reduce the power of the signals supplied by the ampliiler to the phone element.

JOSEPH B. CUBERT.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,395,318.

February 19, 1946.

JOSEPH R. CUBERT It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed Specification of the abov'.` numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, lines 63 and 64, claim 2, strike out the Words and comme euch of said elements having a casing, and insert the same after e1ement, in line 6G, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oihce.

Signed and sealed this 31st dey of December, A. D.

[SEAL] LESLIE FRAZER First Assistant Gommz'ssz'oner of Patents, 

